ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

RAMAPO COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE:

VEHICLE FUELING

Standard Operating Procedure:

Vehicle Fueling

I. Introduction and Purpose

Vehicle and equipment fueling procedures and practices are designed to minimize pollution of surface or
ground waters. Understanding the procedures for delivering fuel into vehicles, mobile fuel tanks, and storage
tanks is critical for this purpose. Safety is always the priority.

II. Scope
These procedures are to be implemented at all maintenance yards with fueling, including mobile fueling
operations.

III. Standards and Specifications (for vehicle and equipment fueling)

 Shut the engine off
 Ensure that the fuel is the proper type of fuel.
 Absorbent spill clean-up materials and spill kits shall be available in fueling areas and on mobile
fueling vehicles and shall be disposed of properly after use.
 Nozzles used in vehicle and equipment fueling shall be equipped with an automatic shut-off to
prevent overfill.
 Fuel tanks shall not be “topped off.”
 Mobile fueling shall be minimized. Whenever practical, vehicles and equipment shall be transported
to the designated fueling area in the Facilities area.
 Clearly post, in a prominent area of the facility, instructions for safe operation of fueling equipment,
and appropriate contact information for the person(s) responsible for spill response.

IV. Standards and Specifications (for bulk fueling)

 Drip pans or absorbent pads shall be used under all hose and pipe connections and other leak-prone
areas during bulk fueling.
 Block storm sewer inlets, or contain tank trucks used for bulk transfer, with temporary berms or
temporary absorbent booms during the transfer process. If temporary berms are being used instead
of blocking the storm sewer inlets, all hose connection points associated with the transfer of fuel
must be within the temporary berms during the loading/unloading of bulk fuels.
 Protect fueling areas with berms and/or dikes to prevent run-on, runoff, and to contain spills.
 A trained employee must always be present to supervise during bulk transfer.

V. Spill Response
 Conduct cleanups of any fuel spills immediately after discovery.
 Uncontained spills are to be cleaned using dry cleaning methods only. Spills shall be cleaned up with
a dry, absorbent material (e.g., kitty litter, sawdust, etc.) and absorbent materials shall be swept up.
 Collected waste is to be disposed of properly.
 Contact Security at x6666.

VI. Maintenance and Inspection

 Fueling areas and storage tanks shall be inspected monthly.
 Keep an ample supply of spill cleanup material on the site.
 Any equipment, tanks, pumps, piping and fuel dispensing equipment found to be leaking or in
disrepair must be repaired or replaced immediately.

August 2005